Vehicle Speed Control Problem on the 2008 MERCURY MARINER

Car problem(s) with the 2008 MERCURY MARINER.
This database includes information received by NHTSA from consumers either directly or as recorded by the Vehicle Safety Hotline. This information may be used by NHTSA during the investigation process.
You may file your own complaint by calling the NHTSA Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153. You can also file your complaint online.

Problem with Vehicle Speed Control

Jan 09, 2015 - Columbus, OH - Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD EXCESSIVELY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT ENGAGED HER BRAKES AND WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO FIND A FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

Jan 09, 2015 - Bartlett, IL - Vehicle Speed Control
IN COLD WEATHER MY GAS PEDAL STICKS. EVEN AFTER I HAVE STARTED MY CAR AND LET RUN FOR 10-15 MINUTES. WHEN I GET IN, REVERSE TO FORWARD POSITION AND TRY TO ACCELERATE- THE GAS PEDAL STICKS. I HAVE TO SLAM ON IT FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES BEFORE IT ACTUALLY WORKS. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AS WELL, NOT JUST THE INITIAL START. IT DEFINITELY HAPPENS MORE IN COLD WEATHER. WHAT CAN I DO? AFTER RESEARCH THIS SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2008 MERCURY MARINERS. I BELIEVE IT'S DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE.

Mar 29, 2014 - Lake Balboa, CA - Vehicle Speed Control
I HAD JUST MADE A RIGHT TURN AND WAS PROCEEDING DOWN THE BLOCK WHEN I HEARD A SUDDEN "CLICK" AND LOST POWER. I COULDN'T STEER AND THERE WAS NO POWER. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR OVER TO THE CURB AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. I RESTARTED IT A FEW MINUTES LATER AND IT STARTED UP OK. HOWEVER, THE RSC WARNING LIGHT STAYED ON EVEN THOUGH I HAD NEVER PRESSED THAT BUTTON. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS TOLD IT WAS A BATTERY PROBLEM SO I GOT A NEW BATTERY. THAT WAS LESS THAN A YEAR AGO AND I CAN'T IMAGINE I NEED A NEW BATTERY THAT OFTEN - THAT SIMPLY NEEDING A NEW BATTERY WILL CAUSE MY CAR TO FAIL! IN DOING SOME RESEARCH I'VE COME ACROSS SEVERAL INSTANCES OF THE SAME ISSUE NECESSITATING REPLACEMENT OF THE THROTTLE BODY MODULE WITH TROUBLE CODES P2111 AND P2112 AND, IN FACT,THE NORTH CAROLINA CONSUMERS COUNCIL (NCCC) HAS OFFICIALLY PETITIONED THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) FOR A DEFECT INVESTIGATION OF ALLEGED THROTTLE BODY FAILURES IN 2005-2012 FORD ESCAPE VEHICLES SHARING THE SAME OR SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR PART. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY ON SURFACE STREETS AND NOT THE FREEWAY. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS HAPPENS ON THE FREEWAY! IS THERE GOING TO BE A RECALL?

Mar 13, 2014 - Easley, SC - Vehicle Speed Control
WITHOUT WARNING THE GAS PEDAL STICKS, WILL NOT FUNCTION. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AND SEEMS TO DISAPPEAR WHEN THE CAR WARMS UP, BUT ALSO HAS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR IS WARM. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE OR JUST DRIVE NORMALLY. THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH BOTH THE FORD ESCAPE AND THE MERCURY MARINER. WE HAVE BEEN STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

Mar 03, 2014 - Houma , LA - Vehicle Speed Control
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR STALLS WITHOUT WARNING THEN IT JERKS REAL HARD AND TAKES OFF SO I HAVE TO RIDE THE BRAKES AFTER COMING TO A STOP BEFORE I CAN PRESS THE GAS PEDDLE IT TAKES OFF SO I RIDE THE BRAKES. WHILE DRIVING AGAIN IT PICKS UP SPEED ON ITS OWN VERY SCARE PLEASE HELP.

Jan 13, 2014 - Pulaski, TN - Vehicle Speed Control
I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION TO TURN AROUND. WHEN I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO GO, MY GAS PEDAL WOULDN'T BUDGE IT WAS LIKE IT WAS STUCK. WHEN I PULLED ON THE HIGHWAY IT DONE IT AGAIN BUT IT TOOK LONGER TO GET MY GAS PEDAL TO PRESS DOWN. WHEN I COME TO STOP NOW I HAVE TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BREAK AND THE GAS PEDAL TO INSURE THAT IT WILL GO WHEN I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL.

Oct 19, 2013 - Bothell, WA - Vehicle Speed Control
THE THROTTLE/GAS PEDAL IN MY 2008 MERCURY MARINER KEPT STICKING AND EVENTUALLY BREAKING. I HAD THE CAR TOWED AND TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY INSPECTED THE CABLE UNHOOKED FROM THE PEDAL WHEN THE TECHNICIAN HOOKED THE CABLE THROTTLE TO THE PEDAL IT WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN PRESSING DOWN ON THE PEDAL, THE THROTTLE PLATE STUCK. THE TECHNICIAN REMOVED AND REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT MY ISSUE IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT WAS A FORD ESCAPE RECALL BACK IN JULY 2012. IS THIS SOMETHING I CAN CONTACT FORD ABOUT TO SEE IF THIS SHOULD ALSO BE PART OF THEIR THROTTLE CABLE RECALL.

Sep 10, 2013 - Woburn, MA - Vehicle Speed Control
I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY AND THE GAS PEDAL JUST WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING BUT I COULD INCREASE THE POWER. I HAD TO COAST ACROSS THREE LANES OF HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC IN ORDER TO GET MY VEHICLE SAFETY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS THE SECOND TIME THE ACCELERATOR CABLE IN THIS VEHICLE HAS SNAPPED WITHOUT WARNING. MY DEALER REPLACED THE FIRST CABLE LAST YEAR AND JUST OVER ONE YEAR LATER THE SAME CABLE HAS SNAPPED. I WAS FORTUNATE NOT TO PANIC AND WAS ABLE TO BRING MY VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS CABLE SNAPPED TWICE WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD NO CONTROL OVER MY VEHICLE AND COULD HAVE KILLED OR INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. MY DEALER IS REPLACING THE CABLE UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT ARE CHARGING ME TO REPLACE THEIR DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BOX. FORD/MERCURY NEEDS TO RECALL ALL MARINERS AND FORD ESCAPES ASAP.

Mar 29, 2013 - Hartland, WI - Vehicle Speed Control
DIVING ALONG THE FREEWAY I HAD THE CRUISE SENT AT 65MPH AND SUDDENLY THE MARINER WAS ACCELERATING ON IT'S OWN. I STEP ON THE BRAKE AND IT DISENGAGED THE CRUISE AND SLOWED. I ACTUALLY THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE OF SOME KIND. THEN DRIVING HOME I DIDN'T USE THE CRUISE AND THE CAR JUST SLOWED DOWN ABOUT 15MPH WHILE I HAD MY FOOT ON THE GAS STAYING AT 55MPH. I'VE EXPERIENCED THIS LOSS OF POWER ABOUT 6 RANDOM TIMES. I'VE USED THE CRUISE ON LONG STRETCHES OF HIGHWAY(THAT I RARELY DRIVE) AND THE MARINER HAS ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN 4 TIMES. THE FOURTH TIME RESULTING IN A SPEEDING TICKET OF 15MPH OVER. THIS WAS 1 OF 2 TIMES THE ACCELERATION WAS GRADUAL. OTHERWISE IT'S AS IF THE GAS PEDAL WAS TO THE FLOORBOARD AS IT TAKES OFF. I SEE ON THE NHTSA THAT THERE ARE OTHERS HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. I'VE QUESTIONED THIS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG NOR RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND THERE IS NOTHING FROM FORD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. AS SOON AS I AM WORKING AGAIN I WILL BE TRADING MY FORD MARINER IN FOR A DIFFERENT VEHICLE. UNTIL THEN I WON'T USE MY CRUISE AND HOPE FOR THE BEST. THIS IS SCARY THAT THIS HAPPENS AND FORD DOESN'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT!

Dec 28, 2012 - Stephenville, TX - Vehicle Speed Control
WAS TRAVELING HOME FOR LUNCH, TURNING CORNER AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT TO IDLE. PUSHED GAS PEDAL AND IT WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD, BUT ENGINE REMAINED AT IDLE. WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AT ALL. WAS ABLE TO IDLE HOME BLOCKING TRAFFIC AS I WENT. CHECKED GAS PEDAL AND FOUND THAT THROTTLE CABLE HAD BROKEN. THE WIRE ITSELF HAD BROKEN. THE RUBBER GROMMET AND CRIMPED END REMAINED IN-TACKED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS IF FOR INSTANCE I HAD BEEN PULLING ONTO FREEWAY OR CROSSING A BUSY INTERSECTION, OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I BELIEVE THIS PART SHOULD BE INSPECTED ON ALL VEHICLES OF THIS YEAR AND MAKE. THIS TYPE OF BREAKAGE COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLY A FATALITY.

Nov 13, 2012 - Hampton, VA - Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL COULD NOT BE DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN AND THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE. AFTER COASTING FOR A WHILE, THE VEHICLE WOULD RAPIDLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

Mar 04, 2012 - Laredo, TX - Vehicle Speed Control
ACCELERATOR GAS PEDAL DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS WHEN WEATHER GETS COLD (BELOW 50F). IT REQUIRES A HARDER PRESS TO ENGAGE AND HAVE THE CAR MOVE. IT IS DANGEROUS WHEN CROSSING AN INTERSECTION AFTER A STOP. FOR THE FAILURE TO WORK RIGHT KEEPS US IN THE INTERSECTION AS WE TRY TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. HAVING TO PRESS HARDER RESULTS IN LOSS OF CONTROL AS WE MANEUVER THE CAR WHEN TURNING AT AN INTERSECTION. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADDED A LUBRICANT . IT HELPED A LITTLE , BUT IT WAS AGAIN DIFFICULT THE NEXT COLD FRONT THAT WE HAD (TEMPERATURES BELOW 50F). THIS CONDITION GRADUATED FROM THE FIRST WINTER WE OWNED IT IN 2008 TO THIS WINTER STARTING IN 2011. IT APPEARS THAT THE PEDAL WORKS BETTER AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN OPERATING FOR A WHILE, LIKE 20 MINUTES OR SO.

Jun 24, 2010 - Bonanza, OR - Vehicle Speed Control
IN DECEMBER OF 2009 I REPORTED AN INCIDENCE OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. SINCE THEN WE HAVE NOT BEEN USING THE CRUISE CONTROL MUCH. YESTERDAY I ACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL AT 60MPH ON A LONG FLAT AREA. THERE IS A MOUNTAIN PASS AND CURVES BETWEEN THAT AREA AND OUR HOME. I HIT THE BRAKE AND SLOWED DOWN AROUND THE 35 MPH CURVES. ON THE DOWN GRADE I TOOK IT OUT OF OVER DRIVE AND DROPPED DOWN A GEAR. THE ROAD FLATTENS OUT AGAIN AT THE BOTTOM BUT I DID NOT REENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. AT ONE POINT AT AN INTERSECTION I HAD TO BRAKE TO TEN MILES PER HOUR OR LESS FOR AN ONCOMING CAR. JUST AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN ONTO OUR STREET THE CAR BEGAN RAPIDLY ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. I DIDN'T HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. SINCE THE ROAD IS STRAIGHT I ALLOWED IT TO ACCELERATE TO SEE WHAT IT WOULD DO. IT WENT FROM 10 MPH TO 50 MPH BEFORE MY WIFE ASKED, "WHY ARE YOU ACCELERATING? I REPLIED, " I'M NOT. IT'S DOING IT ON ITS OWN." IT DISENGAGED AS SOON AS I HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL. THERE IS NO WAY THIS WAS CAUSED BY A FLOOR MAT. I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 10MPH WHEN IT BEGAN ACCELERATING AND I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL. THE LAST TIME I COMPLAINED TO FORD THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND HAD LESS THAN 36,000 MILES ON IT. FORD SAID THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT SINCE IT WAS INTERMITTENT AND THEY HADN'T EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM. ANOTHER SAFETY PROBLEM WE HAVE HAD WITH THE CAR: WHEN IT HAD 26,000 MILES ON IT THE FRONT END BEGAN SHAKING WHEN BRAKING. FORD SAID THE FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED AND RESURFACED THEM UNDER THE WARRANTY. THEY REFUSED TO CHANGE THE PADS OR INSTALL NEW ROTORS. ABOUT 15,000 MILES LATER IT BEGAN VIBRATING AGAIN AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50MPH. NOW THE VIBRATION IS SEVERE. WE ARE LOOKING AT A COMPLETE BRAKE OVERHAUL. WE HAVE NEVER DETECTED THE BRAKES BEING OVERHEATED WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN. ANOTHER PROBLEM WE HAD WAS THAT THE TRANS COOLER WENT OUT AT 26,000 MILES. FORD INSTALLED A NEW ONE UNDER WARRANTY BUT REFUSED TO DRAIN AND REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID.

May 20, 2010 - Chicago, IL - Accelerator Pedal
TL CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND OBSERVED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD DETACHED FROM THE CABLE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ATTACHED BACK TO THE CABLE; AND FUNCTIONED NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR CABLE CLIP. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF THE SAFETY ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,600.

May 17, 2010 - Roseville, MN - Vehicle Speed Control
ON MAY 15, 2010, I WAS ACCELERATING ONTO A FREEWAY IN ROSEVILLE, MN. THE ACCELERATOR CABLE SNAPPED COMPLETELY DISABLING THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN, AND WE WERE NEARLY REARENDED AT 55 MILES AN HOUR AS I FRANTICALLY TRIED TO CONTROL MY VEHICLE, STEER IT TO SAFETY AND PUT THE HAZARD FLASHERS ON. THE VEHICLE HAS 50, 980 MILES SO IT NO LONGER HAS BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY ON IT AND THIS PIECE IS NOT CONSIDERED PART OF THE POWERTRAIN AND WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THIS WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I FEEL THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MY DEALERSHIP FEELS THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THIS VEHICLE.

Feb 17, 2010 - Lakeland, FL - Vehicle Speed Control
ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO, THE ACCELERATOR ON MY 2008 MERCURY MARINER STARTED STICKING. TODAY IT STUCK AND REMAINED STUCK FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT COULD PUT A 347.00 PART IN IT JUST IN CASE IT IS THE PROBLEM. I WAS CHARGE $70.00 FOR THE DIAGNOSIS.

Dec 08, 2009 - Bonanza , OR - Vehicle Speed Control
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. ASCENDING A WINDING GRADE ON OREGON 140 AT 50 MPH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SUDDENLY SHOT UNAIDED TO THE FLOOR PUTTING THE CAR IN PASSING GEAR. WHEN I HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL IT INSTANTLY DISENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR. THE CAR WAS NOT IN CRUISE CONTROL MODE ALTHOUGH IT HAD BEEN EARLIER. I HAD DISENGAGED THE OVERDRIVE FUNCTION THROUGH THE BUTTON ON THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER AND WAS IN STRAIGHT DRIVE GEAR. WE BOUGHT THE CAR IN JANUARY 2009. THIS WAS THE 3RD TIME WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS TIME WAS THE MOST PRONOUNCED AND SERIOUS SINCE THE ACCELERATOR WAS FLOORED. WE WERE PASSING OVER THE CASCADES BETWEEN MEDFORD AND KLAMATH FALLS. TWO OR THREE MILES FURTHER UP THE HIGHWAY WE ENTERED THE SNOW ZONE AND THERE WAS ICE ON THE HIGHWAY. HAD WE BEEN THERE AT THE TIME OF THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION THE CAR COULD HAVE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL.

Oct 18, 2009 - Rutland, VT - Vehicle Speed Control
ON 09-24-2009 WHILE TRAVELING ON I-95 TOWARDS MAINE NEAR PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE, OUR VEHICLE A 2008 MERCURY MARINER, WITH 15,682 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, LOST ALL BRAKING CAPABILITY AT 65 MPH. BEING A RETIRED POLICE OFFICER I WAS ABLE TO TALK MY WIFE, WHO WAS DRIVING, OVER INTO A BREAKDOWN LANE IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID COLLISION WITH TRACTOR TRAILERS, MOTOR VEHICLES AND FIXED OBJECTS. ULTIMATELY THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ONTO AN OFF RAMP AND ONTO A SIDEWALK AND GRASS AREA TO INCREASE FRICTION TO REDUCE SPEED. THIS WAS SEVERAL MILES IN THE MAKING AND WHEN THE VEHICLE SLOWED TO UNDER 40 MPH WE PLACED IT IN NEUTRAL AND WERE ABLE TO STOP THE CAR. WE NOTED THAT THE RPMS WERE IN THE 4,000 TO 5,000 RANGE AS THE THROTTLE APPEARED STUCK. AFTER TOWING TO PORTSMOUTH FORD, IN PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE; TECHNICIANS THERE DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A STRETCHED THROTTLE CONTROL & CABLE ASSEMBLY (PART #7L8Z*9!758*C CABLE ASS-THROTTLE CONTRO AND PART # 8L*Z*9725*A SHAFT MT79758A-ACCELERATOR CABLE). TECHICIANS STATED THAT THE STRETCH ACCELERATOR CABLE (WHICH THEY SAID WAS POORLY DESIGNED) CAUSED THE THROTTLE AND CRUISE CONTROL TO LOCK, WHICH OVER RODE THE BRAKING SYSTEM. WARRANTY REPAIRS WERE MADE INVOICE 497086 TAG CUSTOMER #8023451243. WE NARROWLY AVOIDED WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT AND FEEL THIS SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION AS A DEFECT MAY EXIST IN OTHER SIMLLAR 2008 MERCURY MARINERS.